DEMOCRACY AND ITS INVENTION: By Ismail Patel, Formerly a Lecturer in

Mech.Engg.

Though it is boasted that first invention of Democracy took place in Greece, there was no
appropriate history available. Also, the so called democratic rule might be limited to city
or town government only. But then question arise, how could that democracy end? There
is no history available about end of that so called democracy. It should be noted that, it
was a fact thing that when Islam was rising, there were kings and kingdom and dictators
ruling through out the whole world. Islam’s Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) had born in the
year 570 AD. There were no sign of democracy till then.

The firm and reliable history of invention of democracy is available in the history of
Islam. Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) had instructed his companions that after him, they
should elect/select a leader of Islamic state who must obtain support of the majority.
However, the election was verbal and not like a ballot paper due to lack of printing
facilities. The elected leader of Islamic state was known as Khalipha meaning a deputy.
So, the leader of Islamic state was known as deputy of Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh). The
first leader of Islamic state democratically elected was Hazarat Abu Bakar(RA) who was
a friend of Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) and he was father of one of Prophet’s wives
hazarat Ayesha (RA). Hazarat Umar(RA) was second successor, Hazarat Usman (RA)
was third successor, Hazarat Ali (RA) was the fourth successor. Then Hazarat Imam
Hasan (RA), a son of Hazarat Ali (RA) was elected and he ruled for six month. There was
a group who wanted that Hazarat Muawiah(RA) should be Khalipha. So, pious saint
Imam Hasan (RA) left throne with an accord with Hazarat Muawiah(RA) and he ruled
like a deputed khalipha. There was little war between the two groups and settlement was
done with an accord and Hazarat Muawiah(RA) thus set on the throne. Till that time
everything was normal and Islamic country boundaries extended to present day Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Half of Afghanistan and Egypt within twenty five years
of the Holy Prophet’s passed away from this material world. In 632 AD the Prophet of
Islam passed away from this material world.

There is a history how the end of democracy took place in Islam. After the death of
Hazarat Muawiah (RA), his son Yazid captured throne without election. He was a
commander chief of Islamic army and became first dictator in Islamic Country. People
wanted that Imam Husein (RA) should be their Khalipha. The people of Kufa in Iraq
invited Imam Husein (RA) by written letters that they wanted him to sit on the throne.
Imam Husein(RA) went from Madinah to Kufa with his family and relatives. But on the
way, in Karbala in Iraq, he and his family and other relatives including his six month son
Ali Asgar(RA) were martyred. So, Yazid broke the law set by Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh)
to sit on the throne of khalipha and further, his character was also not pious. He dared to
martyr the pious grand son of the Prophet of Islam and his family male members. Yazid’s
military martyred Imam Husein’s son of six month Ali Asgar (RA). The entire family and
relatives of Imam Husein (RA) were kept thirsty for three days and nights in the sandy
desert soil of karbala under the hot son. Such was a tragedies of battle of Karbala. So,
this was a tregedious history resulting the end of democracy in Islam. So, Islam has
invented the democracy and the first fight to save the democracy and the democratic
principles set by Prophet of Islam, was fought by great grand son of Prophet Mohammed
(Pbuh). Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) had the habit of freeing slaves by paying to their
owners. This habit was also followed by the rich companions of the Prophet (Pbuh). The
great companion, hazarat Salaman Farasi (RA) had been freed by Prophet Mohammed
(Pbuh) from slavery. There was a true event occurred to get Salaman Farasi (RA) get
freed from his owner. Prophet asked Salaman (RA) to inquire his owner what he (owner)
would cost for his release. Salaman Farasi (RA) went to his owner and asked “What will
you take to get me freed” The Owner replied “You sow seed of date trees and when the
trees will grow until dates fruits obtained, I will make you free from my slavery” It was
his owner’s intention that he did not wish to free him. So, the Prophet of Islam advised
him to ask for seeds and then they both, Prophet(Pbuh) and Salaman (RA) put the seeds
in the farm of the owner and the date trees grew so rapidly that within one year the trees
yielded date fruits and thus Salaman Farasi (RA) was get freed by Prophet of Islam. It is
said that the date trees cannot grow rapidly. The Date-trees yield fruits after so many
years. But it was a miracle that the date trees grew rapidly and even started to yield fruits.
In short, the Prophet never wanted a single man be kept as slave. How can he then wish
that his regime or country government be ruling as a dictatorship or kingdom? So, to
make the people free, he invented the democracy rule and instructed his pious
companions to elect their leader for ruling the Islamic country.

Such a great gift to humanity is given by Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh). Let us celebrate his
birth day as a “Democracy Day” through out the world. The UNO must start this
initiative.

The Islam is a Universal Religion which teaches the way to reach the Allah (God),
teaches how to rule the country, teaches the laws how to live in a house, in a community
and in a country. Islam made laws of social security the Zakat (levy on the rich) was
introduced by Islam. The marriage Institution comprising of two witnesses, a pleader and
a judge was first time in the history introduced by Islam. The laws of heirs and
distribution of the property for them were introduced by Islam in a most comprehensive
way. Islam gave importance to trading and deleted interests on the trading. In short Islam
is the total way of life. So, Islam is not just a religion but a perfect way of life.